diatuooc | Test Drive #1

Test Drive #1

The Airship There

By carriage or coach, spellwagon or ship, perhaps even on the wings of magic, the Sundered heed the call to gather at the Tenzin High Dock of Vulbaria. On this, the appointed day, a great passenger airship sits in the dock, the seals of the six Houses fluttering from flagpoles along her length and her wooden planks atremble as if it is eager to be off. At last, the gangplank descends, and the Hand of Diatu opens her doors to the Sundered so they can take their first step on the path towards protection and salvation.

Inside, you may choose from long comfortable couches, broad circular tables surrounded by straight-backed, cushioned chairs, or viewing seats at the glass front of the ship. Sundered who need special accommodations are quickly provided for, ensuring everyone travels in comfort. Trays drift through the air periodically, offering snacks and drinks to the passengers.

This may be the first chance you've had to truly relax since being swept to this strange world. Certainly it is the first chance you've had to meet your fellow Sundered. As the airship lifts gracefully off from the High Dock, your journey to Diatu begins. Excited? Nervous? Simply angry? Or perhaps searching among the crowd here for a familiar face or some sign of hope?

Rain, Rain...

Welcome to Diatu Magicademy. It's raining.

Seriously raining. One of those downpours that feels like a curtain has dropped on you, that soaks to the bone within a second of stepping into it. Obviously, this won't do, and a civic-minded cluster of Purifeul students has taken it upon themselves to solve this problem. No sooner do you step through the gates then you practically run into a giant and complex runic diagram being drawn out with long staffs by several students, all of them speaking seeming nonsense about derivatives, limits, and equations. Magic! In action right before your eyes!

And yet, just as their mathemagics wind towards the center of the diagram and they all make their final stroke -- one student slashes his line off on a weird tangent, speaking an equation that sounds nothing at all like what his fellows utter. The spell completes... weirdly, as the students look in horror at each other. The temperature abruptly drops seventy degrees, and a cold wind begins to blow.

Welcome to Diatu Magicademy. Please get out of the blizzard before you freeze.

Thaumaturgy 101

After some fifteen minutes of grumbling from Professor Loshakle, followed by half an hour of theory and basics, the grouchy old man finally gets to drawing a magical symbol on the board. "This is straight out of Fundamental Principles of Wizarding," he says, writing Sense Magic next to the symbol. "As is everything you'll learn here. I'll emphasize yet again, you MUST know the name of the spell and the proper gestures. You can't simply wave your wand in any old pattern and say any old words. That isn't how it works," he says, glaring around the class as if daring someone to question him.

But he gives no one the opportunity, instead producing a wand and making the gesture to trace the symbol he'd drawn in midair. "Sense Magic," he intones, and the air and his wand both shimmer.

"Now. You all try." Just like that. What the Professor doesn't mention is that this spell can produce some very interesting results if the symbol is off, or the timing...

Bala-inlota Practice

Bala-inlota is the main interaction the Magicademies have with each other -- the sport of wizards! Two teams take the field, with the goal of heaving a ball through their opponent's hoop. The rules primarily revolve around not inflicting lethal injury, because bala-inlota is a free-for-all at best, where each team relies on both physical and magical might to win the day.

You kind of wish someone had told you this BEFORE you got hauled onto the field so the coach could see if you've got what it takes.

Now half a dozen players are charging down the field at your ragtag group of semi-willing recruits, while another half-dozen are preparing spells that you've been absolutely assured aren't as nasty as the ones deployed in actual play. On your side: the ball, your wits, your physical ability, and maybe three classes's worth of magical education.

On the upside, magic is pretty good at healing.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Now knowing that he is in fact here with her in this strange new world, Minfilia will have no issues with giving the boy the biggest hug she can muster. It's been a very long day, they need this badly.]

I was afraid that the Brass Blades had gotten to you. Full glad am I proven to be wrong.

[But...what about their friend? Surely they had gotten out, right?]

[He's taken /aback by the sudden embrace—! Or rather, he would be if there was a bone in his body capable of denying her this moment. It takes him by surprise nonetheless, and he can't help but blush in embarrassment. He's stiff at first, not often placed in such a position, but the circumstances do call for such an exchange. Slowly, gently, he places his hands around her back to return the favor, amazed that he's even able to do this with her.

As a plus note, this temporary pause in their conversation gives him the opportunity to assess it. "The Brass Blades"... Truly, that is the last time that he had seen Minfilia in this state. There are already powerful magicks at work in this place; control over time is a possibility he cannot rule out. Or perhaps he's overthinking it... In any case, it's nothing he should burden her with until he has more information himself.]

I could say the same for you. How long has it been exactly...?

[He's smooth; he's so smooth.]

[Alphinaud, if you are smooth then Tataru is the Ultimate Primal. But she's confused and after she lets him go, her expression shows it.]

How long? You speak of it if it were a distant memory. I was in the waterway with our friends before being sent here.

[She just lived it right before their arrival. Did something else happen? Are you feeling well, small elezen?]

[Perhaps his word choice was poor, after all. It seems unlikely that he can play this off as an expression of weariness. He looks aside, raising a gentle fist to his chin as he considers his next move. There's no avoiding the subject now, and in all probability, there ought not to be consequences for revealing what is a strange but undeniable truth.]

Forgive me, my original intent was to look into the matter further before discussing it with you. However, you are as sharp as ever. [He looks back at her.] It has been... quite some time since the event that you speak of. Much and more has happened since, and... I know not even where to begin.

[She has to think for a moment as her eyes scan for any seats, finally spotting a couple open by the window. If they are going to speak, then they should do it while seated. Minfilia is usually prepared for terrible news but after the banquet chaos, it's good to be prepared for anything.]

Let us sit down first and then you can tell me from the beginning.

[He nods in affirmation, though... "The beginning" may already be a difficult enough subject to breach. Nonetheless, he follows her to the table and seats himself.]

You mentioned the waterways of Ul'dah... Was there nothing more after that?

[He's certain he knows the answer, but it's best to clarify regardless— not to mention easing into the topic while he tries to find his footing within it.]

[Her face scrunches in thought for a second then nods.]

There was...Hydaelyn spoke to me, telling me to return to Y'shtola and Thancred's side. But as I was, I found myself on this star instead.

[She cannot help but wonder if their friend made it out alright. She does remember telling them to move on, that they were the hope for a new dawn to shine on their realm. Was it all for naught?]

Then you'll be pleased to learn that those two are safe, along with our trusted companion.

[Everything after that? Maybe less pleased.]

And the allegations have since cleared. It's taken... some time. [He flashes her a look, evaluating her reaction, before he continues.] However, the Scions have regained their integrity.

They're-?!

[Her shoulders relax as a hand moves over her heart, relief clearly showing as she lets out a breath. Minfilia could cry right there if she could but Alphinaud will just have to see a smile instead.]

Full glad I am that everyone is hale and whole! I will always worry about our family no matter what happens but to hear that our names have been cleared and able to do our work once again gives me strength.

[Her relief is apparent in everything she does. Each breath, each movement, each thought is genuinely filled of her comrades— as it always has been. How much he has missed the pleasure of her company.]

You were ever our source of strength. Your support has made everything— and more— possible.

[He clutches a hand at his own heart, reining in his emotions as best as he is able. How is he able to explain her absence? He doesn't even know how she is able to appear in this form, let alone that her memories seem to cease prior to the events of having gained another. 'Tis no easy task.]

You say that you last recall having been guided by Hydaelyn. Surely that must have been some moons past... Have you been on this star long?

Test Drive #1

:D

♥

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work killed me i am sorry ;;

no worries! I hope you have had some time to rest as well ;w;

yis most definitely

excellent!

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